Can opener



Feb. 21, 1956 w. DEDEN 2,735,173

CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 23, 1955 260%; a/ fizz/clam 2 220 rz/g/ United States Patent CAN OPENER Louis W. Deden, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 23, 1955, Serial No. 530,095

9 Claims. (Cl. 3022) This invention relates to a household item, and more specifically to a can opener.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified can opener.

Another object is to provide a can opener having an improved blade and gripping element designed to provide positive action with a minimum number of wearing parts.

Another object is to provide a simplified can opener which will be inexpensive to manufacture, which will have long life, and which will accomplish the opening of a can in a simple manner with a result obtained generally with the much more elaborate and expensive mechanical openers.

Still another object is to provide a can opener which will be adapted for opening cans of various sizes.

A still further object is to provide an improved gripping, or bead-engaging, wheel for a can opener; the wheel being adapted for engaging a can bead in a positive manner so as to facilitate opening of the can with said opener.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side-elevational view of an opener, embodying the invention, as applied to a can in the process of removing a can lid;

Figure 2 is a side-elevational view of a can opener;

Figure 3 is a front view, in elevation, of a can opener;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a can opener;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 through 4, a can opener is generally designated by the reference character 10. The can opener 10 comprises a body 11 having a handle 12. A curved, relatively narrow, flat metal member 13 is connected to the handle 12. A cutter blade 14 is positioned near the end of the member 13; the said cutter blade 14 including a cutting edge which tapers, or slopes, upwardly toward the handle 12. A spacer member 15 suitably, laterally spaces the blade 14 from the member 13. integrally with the spacer member 15, there is provided a hook, or bottle opener, 16; the spacer member 15 and blade 14 being securely connected to the member 13 by means of spaced rivets 17.

The front end of the member 13 is provided a lip, or tab, 18 which is bent, or angularly disposed, with respect to the vertical plane of the member 13 when in its normal operating position. This is best shown in Figure 6. The lip 18 is provided with an opening 19 in which a gripping, or bead-engaging, member, generally designated at 20, is positioned.

The bead-engaging member 20 comprises a frusto-conical wheel 21 having a relatively sharp, bead-engaging surface 22. A shaft 22 is connected to the wheel 21; the said shatt having a considerably smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the opening 19, so as to freely journal in said opening and to permit a suflicient play, or looseness, with respect to the member 13, so as to be relatively self-adjusting when the wheel is placed into engagement with a can bead. The shaft 23 is also provided with a collar, or enlargement, to retain the gripping mern ber 20 within the opening 19.

In Figure 1, the opener 10 is applied to a can 25 having an upper bead 26 and a top 27; the latter of which is to be cut from the can. The operator merely positions the wheel 21 so that its sharp edge 22 engages the underneath side of the head at its inner point immediately adjacent the can. He then merely pushes down on the cutter blade which cleanly cuts through the top. The gripping, or can bead-engaging, member 20 securely holds the opener in position during cutting; and the operator merely backs up the opener and with up and down movements, cleanly cuts the top from the can.

The position of the gripping member and blade permits a great leverage, and thus the opener Works so easily that a child can easily open a can. The loose journalling, or positioning, of the wheel permits the wheel to shift and assume a number of positions relative to the axis of the opening 1?; and thus it is substantially self-adjusting to fit any bead normally utilized on a can. Also, by the use of this so-called loose, or shiftable, provision, the opener is tightly held on the can and may be operated easily and consistently. As the opener is pulled rearwardly toward the operator, and the up and down action causes cutting, the wheel edge 22 also is in engagement with the bead 26 so as to rotate and constantly present a new surface which will not dull easily. The curved, or arcuate, metal members also act as a guide by engaging the peripheral surface of the bead, and thus the contour of the can can be simply followed.

Thus, an improved can opener has been described which will readily perform the objects above mentioned. The simplicity of the device will assure economy and durability, while yet providing a result which is normally brought about by much more expensive devices. It must now be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed, or as defined in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A can opener comprising: a handle, a relatively narrow body member connected to said handle, said body member including an arcuate portion adapted generally to conform to the curved peripheral surface of a can, a cutter blade on said arcuate portion, a spacer member disposed between said cutter blade and said arcuate portion to space said cutter blade laterally with respect to said arcuate portion, said cutter blade having a cutting edge sloping upwardly generally in the direction of said handle, an end portion of said arcuate portion, said end portion being disposed at an angle with respect to the normal vertical plane of said body, said end portion having an opening, a can bead-gripping member supported on said end portion, said gripping member including a wheel of frusto-conicalshape having a relatively sharp peripheral edge, a shaft on said wheel, said shaft having a substantially lesser outer diameter dimension than the inner diameter dimension of said opening, whereby said shaft is loosely journalled in said opening and said Wheel is selfadjusting into gripping relation with the bead of a can and is rolled with respect thereto during opening of said can.

2. A can opener comprising: a handle, a relatively narrow body member connected to said handle, said body member including a flat arcuate portion adapted generally to conform to the curved peripheral surface of a can and to provide a guide engageable with the head of a can, a cutter blade on said arcuate portion, means spacing said blade laterally with respect to said arcuate portion, said cutter blade having a cutting edge sloping upwardly generally in the direction of said handle, an end portion on said arcuate portion, said end portion being disposed at an angle with respect to the normal vertical plane of said body, said end portion having an opening, a can bead-gripping member supported on said end portion, said gripping member including a wheel of frusto-conical shape having a relatively sharp peripheral edge, a shaft on said wheel, said shaft having a substantially lesser outer diameter dimension than the inner diameter dimension of said opening, whereby said shaft is loosely journalled in said opening and said wheel is self-adjusting into gripping relation with the bead of a can and is rolled with respect thereto during opening of said can.

3. A can opener comprising: a handle, a relatively narrow body member connected to said handle, said body member including an arcuate portion adapted generally to conform to the curved peripheral surface of a can, a cutter blade on said arcuate portion, means spacing said blade laterally with respect to said arcuate portion, said cutter blade having a cutting edge, an end portion on said arcuate portion, said end portion being disposed at an angle with respect to the normal vertical plane of said body, said end portion having an opening, a can headgripping member supported on said end portion, said gripping member including a wheel of frusto-conical shape having a relatively sharp peripheral edge, a shaft on said wheel, said shaft having a substantially lesserouter diameter dimension than the inner diameter dimension of said opening, whereby said shaft is loosely journalled in said opening and said wheel is self-adjusting into gripping relation with the bead of a can and is rolled with respect thereto during opening of said can.

4. A can opener comprising: a handle, a relatively nar row body member connected to said handle, said body member including an arcuate portion adapted generally to conform to the curved peripheral surface of a can, a cutter blade of said arcuate portion, means spacing said blade laterally with respect to said arcuate portion, said cutter blade having a cutting edge, an end portion on said arcuate portion, said end portion having an opening, a can beadgripping member supported on said end portion, said gripping member including a wheel of frusto-conical shape having a relatively sharp peripheral edge, a shaft on said wheel, said shaft having a substantially lesser outer diameter dimension than the inner diameter dimension of said opening, whereby said shaft is loosely journalled in said opening and said wheel is self-adjusting into gripping relation with the bead of a can and is rolled with respect thereto during opening of said can.

5. A can opener comprising: a handle, a relatively narrow body member connected to said handle, said body member including a portion adapted generally to conform to the curved peripheral surface of a can, a cutter blade on said portion, a spacer member disposed between said cutter blade and said portion to space said cutter blade laterally with respect to said portion, said cutter blade having a cutting edge sloping upwardly generally in the direction of said handle, an end portion on said portion, said end portion being disposed at an angle with respect to the normal vertical plane of said body, said end portion having an opening, a can bead-gripping member supported on said end portion, said gripping member including a wheel having a relatively sharp peripheral edge,

a shaft on said wheel, said shaft having a substantially lesser outer diameter dimension than the inner diameter dimension of said opening, whereby said shaft is loosely journalled in said opening and said wheel is self-adjusting into gripping relation with the bead of a can and is rolled with respect thereto during opening of said can.

6. A can opener comprising: a handle, a relatively narrow body member connected to said handle, said body member including an arcuate portion adapted generally to conform to the curved peripheral surface of a can, a cutter blade on said arcuate portion, means spacing said blade laterally with respect to said arcuate portion, said cutter blade having a cutting edge sloping upwardly generally in the direction of said handle, an end portion on i said arcuate portion, said end portion being disposed at an angle with respect to the normal vertical plane of said body, said end portion having an opening, a can beadgripping member supported on said end portion, said gripping member including a wheel of frusto-conical shape having a relatively sharp peripheral edge, a shaft on said wheel, said shaft having a substantially lesser outer diam eter dimension than the inner diameter dimension .of said opening, whereby said shaft is loosely journalled in said opening and said wheel is self-adjusting into gripping relation with the bead of a can.

7. A can opener comprising: a handle, a relatively flat body member having one end connected to said handle, a cutter blade connected to said fiat portion a distance from a second end thereof, said blade having a cutting edge sloping upwardly toward the handle, a bead-gripping member disposed on said body between the second end and said cutter blade, said gripping member comprising a wheel of frusto-conical shape having a sharp edge at its maximum external periphery adapted to engage a can head in gripping relation, and means movably connecting said wheel to said body for rotation with respect thereto whereby said wheel is axially shiftably positioned to permit self-adjustment of the wheel relative to a bead.

8. A can opener comprising: a-handle, a relatively flat body member having one end connected to said handle, a cutter blade connected to said flat portion a distance from a second end thereof, said blade having a cutting edge, a bead-gripping member disposed on said body between the second end and said cutterblade, said gripping member comprising a wheel of tapered shape having a sharp edge at its maximum external periphery adapted to engage a can bead in gripping relation, and means movably connecting said wheel to said body for rotation with respect thereto whereby said wheel is axially shiftably positioned to permit self-adjustment of the wheel relative to a bead.

9. A can opener comprising: a handle, a relatively flat body member having one end connected to said handie, a cutter blade connected to said flat portion a dis tance from a second end thereof, said blade'having a cutting edge sloping upwardly toward the handle, a head engaging member disposed on said body between the second end and said cutter blade, said bead-engaging member comprising a wheel of frusto-conical shape having a peripheral edge adapted to engage a can bead, and means loosely connecting said wheel to said body whereby said wheel is axiallyshiftably positioned to permit self-adjustment of the wheel relative to a bead.

No references cited. 

